Giro Cinder MIPS review
The products mentioned in this article are selected or reviewed independently by our journalists. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission, but this never influences our opinion.

Giro Cinder MIPS review

Comfortable, good looking and much cheaper than a Synthe, but ventilation suffers

Our rating

4

150.00
125.00

Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Published: May 27, 2017 at 6:00 pm

Our review
Comfortable, good-looking helmet with modern protection at a decent price — but a sweat bucket on hot climbs

The Giro Cinder is a MIPS road helmet that costs just over half as much as the California company’s top-end Synthe MIPS.

I love the fit and feel of the Cinder, except for on hot days and/or when doing strenuous climbs. In those situations, the difference in ventilation to the Synthe becomes quite apparent.

Cinder MIPS vs. Synthe MIPS, in fit and ventilation

The $150 / £125 Cinder (left) and the top-end $270 / £225 Synthe
The $150 / £125 Cinder (left) and the top-end $270 / £225 Synthe Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Visually the two are quite similar, and while there are small differences in the size and shape of the vents, the main difference in air flow lies within the helmets.

The Synthe uses Giro’s Roc Loc Air retention system, which keeps the helmet slightly off the head, especially at the front. This design allows a little more airflow across the forehead.

The Cinder uses Giro’s Roc Loc 5 retention system, which is anchored at the temples of the helmet. The front pad of the Cinder lays right on top of the MIPS liner, which in turn lays flat against the foam body of the helmet.

The Cinder's (left two) solid pad and underlying MIPS liner sit flush against the foam. The Synthe's ventilated pad sits out from the foam atop the white Roc Loc Air retention system
The Cinder's (left two) solid pad and underlying MIPS liner sit flush against the foam. The Synthe's ventilated pad sits out from the foam atop the white Roc Loc Air retention system Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

So Roc Loc Air is better than Roc Loc 5, right? Well, here’s the thing: over months of testing I have found myself grabbing the Cinder over the Synthe most of the time for a couple of reasons.

One, the Cinder just feels more comfortable to me, perhaps because the weight of the helmet is distributed throughout the inside, inside of resting on just the 360-degree plastic Roc Loc Air band.

And two, I can fit into a medium Cinder but have to bump up to a large Synthe, and I prefer a smaller helmet than a wider one, pretentious roadie that I am.

I say ‘most of the time’ with the disclaimer being hot days with climbing. I’m not sure how much of the Synthe’s superior ventilation has to do with its larger vents or the off-the-head Roc Loc Air design, but the difference on steamy, grinding climbs is huge.

Easy to adjust

The Roc Loc 5 retention system is adjustable for height
The Roc Loc 5 retention system is adjustable for height Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

The Roc Loc 5 on the Cinder is easy to adjust for circumference with a small dial and can be adjusted vertically, too.

Reflective elements on the back are a sensible touch, without being gaudy.

I weighed my medium Cinder at 303g. A medium Synthe is more like 270g.

The Cinder comes in six styles and the comparable women’s Ember comes in four designs.

Aesthetics are always a matter of personal preference, but I like the rear styling on the Cinder — and the absence of the large Giro logo that the Synthe sports
Aesthetics are always a matter of personal preference, but I like the rear styling on the Cinder — and the absence of the large Giro logo that the Synthe sports Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Giro now has MIPS helmets starting at $65 with the Revel and Bishop. You can get a Giro helmet for as little as $40 with the Trinity. Personally, I like the graphics on the $65 Sub Pop Foray.

Bottom line: Good lid but hot on the climbs

The Giro Cinder is a good-looking helmet with modern protection at a decent price. It’s very comfortable, at least in my estimation, for general fit and for most riding conditions. It’s just a sweat bucket on the climbs.

Reflective elements are seldom a bad idea, especially when they are incorporated cleanly like this
Reflective elements are seldom a bad idea, especially when they are incorporated cleanly like this Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Product "51308" does not exist or you do not have permission to access it.